Are hearing loss and impairment the same thing?

Hearing loss and hearing impairment are not the same thing.

Hearing loss refers to the complete or partial inability to hear. This could be due to a number of factors, such as damage to the inner ear, earwax buildup, or a birth defect.

Hearing impairment, on the other hand, is a term that is used to describe a range of conditions that affect hearing. This could include hearing loss, but also other conditions that make it difficult to understand or process sounds. For example, someone who has difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments may have a hearing impairment, even if their hearing is not technically impaired.

It's important to distinguish between hearing loss and hearing impairment because the treatments for each condition are different. Hearing loss may be treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants, while hearing impairment may be treated with speech therapy or assistive listening devices.